Tragically, the false idea that methanol could cure Coronavirus has led to more than 700 deaths in Iran.
According to the national coroner’s authority, alcohol poisoning claimed the lives of 728 Iranians between February 20 and April 7.
Reportedly, there were only 66 deaths from alcohol poisoning in the previous year.
Hossein Hassanian, an adviser to the Health Ministry, confirmed the news, highlighting that the disparity in death counts is due to some alcohol poisoning victims passing away outside of hospital care.
Hassanian added, ‘Some 200 people died outside of hospitals’.
State TV revealed that 525 people have died from consuming toxic methanol alcohol since February 20.
Official reports also stated that a total of 5,011 individuals had been poisoned by methanol alcohol, with around 90 people experiencing sight issues or damage due to alcohol poisoning.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Iran has witnessed a tenfold surge in alcohol poisoning cases over the past year, as per a government report released in April.
Iran is currently grappling with one of the most severe coronavirus outbreaks in the Middle East, with more than 91,000 confirmed cases and 5,806 deaths.